PROFLUVIA. 317 



in the course of one epidemic ; i. e. I repeatedly caught cold, 

 which always produced the same effect, and readily operated on 

 my body previously weakened." 



MLXVI. When the disease is more violent, not only the 

 antiphlogistic regimen must be exactly observed, but various 

 remedies also become necessary. 



To take off the phlogistic diathesis which always attends 

 this disease, blood-letting, in a larger or smaller quantity, and 

 repeated according as the symptoms shall require, is the proper 

 remedy. 



For restoring the determination of the fluids to the surface of 

 the body, and at the same time for expeding the secretion of 

 mucus in the lungs, which may take off the inflammation of its 

 membrane, vomiting is the most effectual means. 



" In what manner, by the use of expectorants, the mucus may 

 be brought up more largely and with more facility, I find it diffi- 

 cult to explain. They might perhaps do it by merely exciting 

 coughing ; but I know of no internal medicine capable of doing 

 this; and I must here mention by the way, that I know of no means 

 of exciting cough with expectoration, but by employing vomit- 

 ing. It may also be observed, by the way, that the diseases de- 

 pending upon an accumulation of mucus in the lungs, may be 

 often relieved by medicines which determine to the surface of 

 the body, which may diminish the determination to the lungs ; 

 and, by diminishing the quantity of mucus poured into the bron- 

 chise, the expectoration of what remains may be rendered more 

 easy. M.M. 



For the latter purpose, it has been supposed that squills, gum 

 ammoniac, the volatile alkali, and some other medicines, might 

 be useful. But their efficacy has never appeared to me to be 

 considerable ; and if squills have ever been very useful, it seems 

 to have been rather by their emetic, than by their expectorant 

 powers. 



When the inflammatory affections of the lungs seem to be 

 considerable, it is proper, beside blood-letting, to apply blisters 

 on some part of the thorax. 



As a cough is often the most troublesome circumstance of 

 this disease, so demulcents may be employed to alleviate it. 

 See CCCLXXIII. 



